Operatives of the Cross River National Park have apprehended fourteen illegal miners in the Ifumkpa axis of the state.
The miners were arrested during an investigative patrol led by the Conservator of Park, CP Caroline Samuel Olory and her team to get firsthand information concerning reported illegal mining activities at the Ifumkpa.
According to a press release by the agency, the determined patrol team trekked 17.4km to and fro challenging terrains crossing over sixteen (16) swift flowing streams/rivers and fallen tree trunks along foot paths leading to the site. In one of the mining sites, the team accosted ten (10) illegal miners and another four (4) along the road heading to the mining site.
The illegal miners, age (25 – 35) years said they are indigenes of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Niger and Nassarawa States respectively. Further interrogation, revealed that there are over one hundred (100) miners at various locations carrying out mining activities within the area.
The team also apprehended a logger who escaped, leaving behind his power chainsaw. In the process of trekking (8km) back with the fourteen (14) suspects to where the vehicles were parked, twelve (12) suspects escaped, leaving two (2) who were successfully taken to, and detained at the Head office, Akamkpa amidst hot chase from Ifumkpa youths on a mission to free the suspects and the power chainsaw from the Patrol team.
The two suspects have been charged to court.